Container closure having easy-opening means

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a dual closure for an open top container which closure comprises an outer sheet metal cap and an inner pliable cap that nests in the outer cap and serves as a convenience closure when the outer cap is discarded. The dual closure is clinched to an outer circumferential shoulder of the open top container and is released from the container by manually severing a tear strip of the outer cap to permit the outer cap to be spread out of engagement with the container.

United States Patent Fraze Sept. 16, 1975 [54] CONTAINER CLOSURE HAVING 3,244,307 4/1966 Mem'll 215/96 3.325.033 6/1967 wilt-2211011.. 215/254 1342,3157 9/1967 lrland 220/54 [76] Inventor: Ermal C. Fraze, 355 W. Stroop Rd.

Dayton ()h 45429 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1.1813526 H1959 France 215/40 1969 1214.614 11/1959 France 2l5/46.5 2 APPL N 303 015 658,870 10/1951 United Kingdom v, 220/54 500,008 11/1954 Italy 2l5/46.5 Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 599J24, Dec, 5. W66. primary E m G T H Attorney, Agent, or FirmGeorge F. Smyth 152] US. Cl. 215/255 [51] Int. Cl .1 865d 41/32 5141 Field of Search 215/39, 42, 46.5, 251, [571 ABSTRACT 15/254. 5 /5 The invention provides a dual closure for an open top container which closure comprises an outer sheet 156] References Cited metal cap and an inner pliable cap that nests in the UMTED A S TENTS outer cap and serves as a convenience closure when I 675 2H9 Heath N 25/46 the outer cap is discarded. The dual closure is 2:218:04 0/1940 Humflm 215/46 clinched to an outer circumferential shoulder of the 4/1956 Rubin 215 4 open top container and is released from the container 2.8118954 111/1957 Smith... 215/46 X by manually severing a tear strip of the outer cap to 2. 1.1 I W Pfl 1 21 permit the outer cap to be spread out of engagement 3 U()U 526 9/1961 FOlLl i r .1 B the continen 3.2] L316 lll/l965 Fischer 1 1 215/39 3.219/104 ll/l965 Wilton 215/40 X 21 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures CONTAINER CLOSURE HAVING EASY-OPENING MEANS This application is a continuation of application Scr. No. 599124, filed on Dec. 5, 1966.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is old in the art to provide a distributor of a product with a dual cap closure assembly for use on an open top container such as a glass jar or a glass bottle for shipping the product. The dual cap closure assembly comprises an outer flanged sheet metal cap and an inner cap of plastic material to serve as a convenience closure after the outer cap is discarded. In practice the two caps are separate until the time of use and are then nested together and tclescoped over the rim of the open top containedv 'lhereafter the circumferential flange of the outer cap is deformed into positive engagement with the container. For example, the circumferential flange of the outer cap may be deformed by a rolling operation into engagement with a circumferential bead of the open end of the container.

One problem to which the invention is directed is to provide the outer sheet metal cap with a tear strip that may be manually severed to release the outer cap from the container, The obvious solution to this problem which has been followed heretofore is simply to score the sheet metal of the outer cap in such manner as to provide a tear strip extending all the way across the outer cap. One end of the tear strip forms an integral tongue of sheet metal extending from the peiphery of the cap to serve as a tab for manual severance of the tear strip. The tongue of sheet metal may dangle from the edge of the outer cap or may be folded up over the top of the cap.

One disadvantage of this prior art construction is that since the tab is not nested snugly into the configuration of the outer cap it is vulnerable to damage and the tear strip may be accidentally severed when the filled container is handled and shipped. Another disadvantage is that if the tab dangles from the periphery of the outer cap it interferes with handling the filled container and especially so if the dangling tab has a raw metal edge. If the tab is folded back across the top of the cap, the radially protruding folded portion of the tab may be a nuisance in handling the container and the folded tab may interfere with stacking the containers.

A further disadvantage is that such a tab in the form of an integral tongue of the metal cap requires initiating severance of the tear strip by brute force in contrast to the ease of operation of a lever-type pull tabv A still further disadvantage of the described arrangement of a tear strip extending all the way across the outer cap is that severance of the tear strip divides the cap into three separate pieces. one of which is the tear strip, and the other two of which fall to the floor.

Another problem to which the invention is directed is to simplify the task of the food processor in mounting the dual cap closure on an open-top container. The ne cessity of stacking and handling two separate caps is troublesome and uneconomical.

The present invention avoids all of the difficulties.

SUMMARY OF THE DIS(LOSURE The two caps nested together are supplied to a food processor as an assembly to be placed on the top of a filled container, for example. a glass jar, and to be clinched into engagement with a peripheral head of the container. for example by application of suitable roller means around the periphery of the dual cap. A feature of the invention in this respect is that the circumferential flange of the outer cap is inwardly offset to form inner ribs or inner dimples to frictionally retain the inner cap up to the time for mounting the dual closure on an open top container. In the preferred practice of the invention the inward offsets are only temporary because they are eliminated by the rolling operation for clinching the dual closure to the container.

The outer cap is dished inwardly to accommodate within its configuration a pull tab that is attached to the tear strip by a hollow rivet to serve as manual leverage means for severance of the tear strip. The dished configuration keeps the pull tab and the associated rivet below the level of the rim of the primary cap to permit stacking of the filled containers.

A feature of the invention is that the line of scoring of the metal of the outer cap to provide the tear strip defines a central disk portion of the tear strip with spaced legs of the line of scoring defining an integral tongue extending radially from the disk portion to the outer periphery of the cap. One of the two spaced legs of the line of scoring extends all the way to the edge of the circumferential flange of the sheet metal cap but the other leg stops short of the edge of the flange. One advantage of this tear strip configuration is that manip ulating the pull tab to sever the metal along the line of scoring transforms the sheet metal tab into a split flanged ring, the split ends of which may be easily spread apart by finger manipulation to disengage the outer sheet metal cap from the jar and to leave the eas ily removable secondary cap in place. A second advantage of this tear strip configuration is that since one ol the two legs of the line of scoring stops short of the edge of the sheet metal, peeling back the tear strip to form the flanged split ring leaves the tongue of the tear strip connected to one of the split ends of the flanged ring. Thus, while manual operation of the pull tab loos ens the outer cap for removal, it nevertheless leaves the outer cap in one piece for convenient disposal instead of creating a nuisance by splitting the metal cap inti' two or three separate pieces that may readily fall apart Other features of the invention relate to the methoc of fabricating the outer sheet metal cap with the de scribed tear strip and pull tab. The dilemma to be me' is that, on the one hand, it would be extremely difficult and completely impractical to attempt to score thc metal to form the tear strip after the sheet metal cap is dished and flanged and, on the other hand, scoring the sheet metal in advance of the dishing and flanging in vites rupture of the sheet metal because the formin and flanging operations tend to stretch the sheet meta radially across the arcuate portion of the scoring tha defines the central removable disk.

This dilemma is met by offsetting the sheet metal ii advance of the forming and/or flanging operation It provide an arcuate rib or head in the sheet metal CIOSt to but radially outward from the disk-defining portior of the line of scoring. All of the radial stretching force that are inherent in the subsequent dishing and forming of the sheet metal occur on the radially outer side 0 the arcuate offset rib and the offset rib serves, in effect as a barrier against these forces. The arcuate rib ex pands radially to absorb or dissipate the radial stretch ing forces instead of transmitting the stretching force radially inwardly to the region of the arcuate scoring The arcuate rib also serves a second purpose subsequently when the tear strip is severed since the arcuate rib stiffens the sheet metal adjacent the tear strip and thus facilitates severance of the tear strip and especially facilitates initiation of the severance of the tear strip.

The solution to this dilemma makes possible a highly economical mass production fabrication sequence in which the sheet metal is scored and offset early in the sequence to form the protective arcuate rib. Preferably the two operations of scoring and offsetting the sheet metal are combined in one operation on a strip of sheet metal but are not necessarily simultaneous because the embossing step may be advantageously timed slightly ahead of the scoring step. Thereafter a blank for the outer flanged cap is pinched out of the strip of sheet metal and then the blank is formed and flanged to provide the outer cap of the desired finished configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view of the dual-cap closure ready for mounting on an open top container;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the dual-cap closure;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the dual cap closure;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation partially broken away showing the dual-cap closure mounted on the top of a glass jar in preparation for deforming the closure into sealing engagement with the glass jar;

FIG. 5 is a similar view showing the installed dual-cap closure and indicating how the final operation may be carried out by roller means;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing how the nearly complete severance of the tear strip transforms the outer metal cap into a split flanged ring having two con fronting ends with the tear strip attached to one of the confronting ends;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing how the peripheral flange ot the sheet metal cap may be formed with dimples instead of offset ribs for frictional retention of the inner cap and further showing how the peripheral flange of the inner cap may be offset to cooperate with the dimple;

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating the first step in a suggested sequence of steps for fabricating the outer sheet metal cap, which step consists of scoring a strip of sheet metal to form a tear strip therein;

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating the second step in the suggested sequence which consists of blanking out a sheet metal disk with the scoring thereon and at the same time forming the protective arcuate offset rib around the scoring;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating the next step in the suggested fabrication procedure which step is to form the disk to a dished configuration to depress a central region of the tear strip and at the same time not only to curl the peripheral edge of the disk but also to form short radial ribs in the peripheral portion of the disk that is to form the peripheral flange of the finished cap;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken as indicated by the line l2I2 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating completion of the next step in the suggested fabrication procedure which step is to form the peripheral flange of the sheet metal cap;

FIG. I4 is a view similar to FIG. I3 illustrating the next step of forming a hollow rivet in the tear strip in preparation for attaching a pull tab to the tear strip. and

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. I4 showing a score line of a different pattern.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED PRACTICE. OF THE INVENTION FIGS. I to 3 show the structure of the finished dualcap closure assembly; FIGS. 4 and 5 show how the closure assembly is applied to an open mouth jar; and FIG. 6 shows how the tear strip is severed for removal of the closure assembly.

Referring to FIGS. 1 3. the closure assembly comprises the combination of an outer sheet metal cap. generally designated 10, formed with a peripheral flange l2 and an inner cap 14 of suitable flexible material formed with a peripheral flange 15. In this instance the inner cap I4 is made of a suitable plastic but the inner ap may be made of other materials. for example a suitable metal foil.

To keep the inner cap 14 nested in the outer cap 10 until the assembly is employed to seal an open top con tainer. the flange 12 of the outer cap may be suitably offset radially inwardly at spaced points to lightly grip the flange IS of the inner cap. In the construction shown the flange I2 of the outer cap is formed with three short inwardly offset longitudinal ribs [6 for this purpose. The flange 12 of the outer cap I0 is curled inwardly at its edge as indicated at I8 in FIGS. 2 and 4 to facilitate snug fit of the outer cap around the con taincr when the closure assembly is installed and this lip also tends to keep the inner cap 14 captive until the closure assembly is installed on a container.

The outer cap I0 is weakened by a line of scoring having an arcuate portion that surrounds a central area of the cap and having two spaced legs 22 and 24 the resulting tear strip having a disk portion 25 with an integral radial tongue 26. As shown in FIGS. 2 and S, the leg 22 of the line of scoring extends all the way to the edge of the sheet metal of the cap but the second leg 24 terminates short of the edge of the sheet metal. The arcuate portion 20 of the line of scoring is encompassed by a correspondingly arcuate inwardly offset rib 28, the two confronting ends of which straddle the tongue 26 of the tear strip.

In a well known manner, a heavy sheet metal pull tab 30 is attached to the disk portion 25 of the tear strip by a hollow rivet 32 that is formed in the material of the tear strip. The pull tab 30 has a large aperture 34 to give the pull tab at ring-shaped configuration and the outer end of the pull tab 30 may be slightly bent upward and indicated at 35 to facilitate initial lifting of the pull tab when the time comes to sever the tear strip.

The pull tab 30 is preferably of the type that is stiff throughout its length to function as a lever and for this purpose the margin ofthe sheet metal may be curled or folded throughout the length as indicated at 36 in FIG. 1. Preferably the pull tab is provided with an arcuate slit 37 near the rivet 32 to reduce the resistance to initial lifting of the handle end of the pull tab. Continued lifting causes the pull tab to fulcrum about its connection with the hollow rivet with the consequence that the narrowed end depresses the edge of the tear strip for initial rupture of the sheet metal.

Preferably the outer cap is centrally depressed or dished inwardly to place the pull tab 30 and the rivet 32 below the level of the rim of the cap and thereby permit the filled containers to be stacked without interference by the pull tab. In the construction shown the inward offset of the central area of the cap lorms a sloping annular shoulder 38 that surrounds the arcuate rib 28 and extends across the tongue 26 of the pull tab.

FIG. I further shows how the outer cap 10 may be locally weakened by a short radial line of scoring 39 that extends to the peripheral edge of the sheet metal. As will be apparent, after the tear strip is severed the weakening effect of the short line of scoring facilitates spreading of the outer cap out of engagement with the container.

FIG. 4 shows how the dual cap closure assembly may be mounted on an open top container 40 in preparation for deforming the closure assembly into sealing engagement with the container. In this instance the container 40 is a glass jar that is formed with a peripheral head or rib 42 close to the rim of the jar.

FIG. 5 shows how a pressure pad 43 may press the closure assembly against the rim of the jar 40 while a tool in the form of a roller 44 is employed to deform the two flanges l2 and of the two caps into snug engagement with the outer bead 42 of the jar, the inner cap 14 serving as an efficient sealing gasket. The prior formation of the inwardly curled lip IS on the flange I2 of the outer cap facilitates snug fitting of the rim of the flange against the jar 40 at the end of the rolling operation. In this particular practice of the invention the roll ing operation irons out and thus eliminates the short longitudinal ribs [6 on the flange of the outer cap.

When it comes time to remove the closure assembly from the closed jar. the pull tab 30 is easily initially swung upward from the outer cap by virtue of the areaate slit 37 and continued lifting of the tab rocks the nar rowed end of the tab inwardly in the region of the areaate portion of the line of scoring to initiate severance of the tear strip. Once the severance of the tear strip is initiated the tab may be pulled to complete the rupture of the metal along the full length of the line of scoring, the completion of the operation being illustrated by FIG. 6. Since the leg 24 of the line of scoring does not go all the way to the edge of the sheet metal, the tear strip is not completely separated from the rest of the sheet metal cap. the radial tongue 26 of the tear strip being connected to the flange 12 of the sheet metal cap.

The rupture of the sheet metal along the full length of the leg 22 of the line of scoring and the removal of the disk portion of the tear strip from the flanged cap converts the flanged cap into a split flanged ring as may be seen in FIG. 6, the tear strip being connected to one of the two confronting split ends of the flanged ring. The outer cap may then be completely disengaged from the jar by simply spreading apart the confronting ends of the split flanged ring. The provision of the radial score line 39 diametrically opposite from the leg 22 of the line of scoring locally weakens the flanged ring to facilitate the spreading apart of the two confronting ends of the ring. Once the outer cap I0 is removed. the inner cap 14 may be easily lifted from the glass jar and may thereafter serve as a convenience closure for the jar.

Within the scope of the invention the flanged outer cap 10 may be deformed in various ways for keeping the inner cap 14 captive until the closure assembly is used For example. FIG. 7 indicates how the flange 12 of the outer cap may be formed with spaced dimples 45 to serve the same purpose as the short longitudinal ribs [6. FIG. 7 further shows how the peripheral flange of the inner cap may be formed with an outwardly offset circumferential rib 46 to cooperate with the dimples 45.

It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that various procedures may be followed for fabrication of the outer sheet metal cap I0 of the closu re assembly. The preferred fabrication procedure, which will now be described, is characterized by the utilization of the arcuate rib 28 to protect the line of scoring during the operation of dishing and flanging the outer cap. The first step in the preferred fabrication procedure illustrated by FIG. 8 is to process a strip of sheet metal by scoring dies to score the sheet metal to outline the tear strip and also to provide the radial score line 39. The next step is to punch out of the strip of sheet metal a circular blank 47 as shown in FIG. 9 and to form simultaneously the arcuate rib 28. If desired. the two steps illustrated by FIGS. 8 and 9 may be carried out in one punch press operation.

The next step illustrated by FIG. I1 is to dish inwardly the central area of the disk 47 to form the annular sloping shoulder 38 along with the short radial ribs 16 and at the same time to precurl the peripheral edge of the sheet metal disk to form the previously mcn tioncd curled lip 18. The next step is to flange the disk 47 to produce the flanged cap 10 shown in FIG. I3 which is complete except for lack of a pull tab. FIG. I4 shows how the cap shown in FIG. 13 may be processed by suitable dies in a well known manner to provide a hollow rivet 48 of a preliminary configuration. The final steps are to provide a pull tab 30 with a suitable aperture to receive the preliminary hollow rivet 48, to place the pull tab in position with the hollow rivet extending through the aperturcd pull tab and then to stake the hollow rivet in a suitable manner to result in the final configuration of the previously described hollow rivet 32.

In one sequence that may be followed the steps illustrated by FIGS. 8 and 9 may be carried out in one automatic machine and the rest of the operation may be carried out in a second automatic machine. In another procedure that may be followed the steps shown in FIGS. 8, 9, I1 and 13 may be carried out in one automatic machine and the remaining steps may be carried out in a second automatic machine.

An important feature of the invention is the manner in which the arcuate rib 38 in the blank 47 protects the tear strip scoring during the forming operation illustrated by FIG. I] and during the subsequent flanging operation to produce the sheet metal cap shown in FIG. 13. As may be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12 the inwardly offset arcuate rib 28 lies close to the base of the arcuate sloping shoulder 38 and lies radially outwardly of the arcuate portion 20 of the score line. In the two forming operations illustrated by FIGS. 9 and II the metal is stretched radially outwardly and in the absence of the arcuate rib 28 the arcuate portion 20 of the line of scoring would besubjected to transverse tension of a magnitude to rupture the residual web that is formed by the scoring. With the presence of the arcuate rib 28, how ever. the arcuate rib functions as a barrier that keeps the stretching forces from reaching the arcuate portion 20 of the score line. In effect the arcuate rib 28 consti tutes an expansion joint between inner and outer radial zones of the sheet metal and the metal-stretching forces created by the forming operations in the outer radial zones are absorbed or dissipated by slight radial expansion of the arcuate ribv FIG [5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 14 showing how the line of scoring may be of a pattern to produce an elongated tear strip 60 of the configuration shown. This can top construction is satisfactory where it is not necessary to depress the central area of the can top to accommodate the pull tab.

My description in specific detail of the presently preferred practice of the invention will suggest various changes, substitutions and other departures from my disclosure within the spirit and scope of the appended claims I claim:

1. Container means comprising first wall means defining a compartment and having first peripheral surface means defining large area access means therefor, pull-off wall means having second peripheral surface means corresponding in peripheral outline to said first peripheral surface means and having strip means comprising an integral part thereof. said strip means having a severable inner portion adapted to have pull means fastened thereto and an attached outer portion which remains attached to said pull-off wall means adjacent said second peripheral surface means upon severing said strip means. fastening means for fastening said wall means together by fastening said surface means together at an infinite number of independent fastening positions thcrealong, wherein said attached outer portion enables said strip means to be used to apply a concentrated pulling force the effect of which is to first pull a portion of said pull'off wall means free adjacent the initial position of said attached outer portion and with continued application of said pulling force said pull-off wall means is pulled free in a progressive manner at each of said fastening positions, and pull means having inner end means and fixed to said inner portion to enable easier severing of said strip means, said strip means being defined by substantially U-shaped score means arranged in said pull-off wall means with its out wardly extending legs substantially transverse to said second peripheral surface means and the strip portion between the terminal ends of said outwardly extending legs defining said attached outer portion.

2. Pull-off wall means for container means having first peripheral surface means defining large area access means therefor. said pull-off wall means comprising, second peripheral surface means corresponding in peripheral outline to said first peripheral surface means and adapted to be fastened thereto at an infinite number of independent fastening positions therealong and strip means formed as an integral part of said pull-off wall means said strip means having a sevcrable inner portion adapted to have pull means fastened thereto and an attached outer portion which remains attached to said pull-off wall means adjacent said second peripheral surface means upon severing said strip means, wherein said attached outer portion enables said strip means to be used to apply a concentrated pulling force the effect of which is to first pull a portion of said pulloff wall means free from said first peripheral surface means adjacent the initial position of said outer portion and with continued application of said pulling force said pull-off wall means is pulled free in a progressive manner at each of said fastening positions, and pull means having inner end means and fixed to said inner portion to enable easier severing of said strip means,

5 said strip means being defined by substantially U- shaped score means arranged in said pull-off wall means with its outwardly extending legs substantially transverse to said second peripheral surface means and the strip portion between the terminal ends of said outwardly extending legs defining said attached outer por tion.

3. Pull-off wall means as set forth in claim 2 adapted to be used as an end closure for said container means and having a substantially planar surface with a peripheral transverse flange defining said second peripheral surface means and said end closure is fastened to said first peripheral surface means by placing said transverse flange in position thereagainst and fastening said transverse flange at said infinite number of fastening positions.

4. A closure for closing and sealing an open top con tainer comprising:

an imperforate cap of a single layer of deformable sheet metal having an end wall and a depending pe ripheral flange of a size and shape to telescopically fit over the open top container. the flange adapted to be deformed into cooperative interlocking engagement with means of said container adjacent the open top thereof whereby the cap forms a tam perproof closure for the container;

a cap of a pliant material having an end wall and a depending flange of a size and shape to nest into said metal cap and forming a sealing element interposed between the defining edge of the open top of the container and said metal cap for hermetically sealing the jointurc between said metal cap and container;

a line of weakness formed in said metal cap and defining a tear strip having a leading end adjacent one side of the end wall of said metal cap;

said line of weakness comprising a score line. a segment of said score line forming one side of said tear strip and extending from a point on the lower edge of said flange and upwardly thereof to said end wall and partly across said end wall to said leading end of the tear strip a further segment of said score line forming the other side of said tear strip and extending from the leading end thereof across said end wall and downwardly of said flange to a second point spaced from said first point and upwardly from the lower edge of said flange whereby said tear strip will remain joined with said flange by the metal intermediate said second point and the lower edge of said flange upon rupture of the score line to convert the metal cap into a partially split unitary member with confronting ends that may be manually spread apart for release of the metal cap from said container;

a tab member having a substantially longitudinally rigid lever portion; and

means integral with said leading end of the tear strip interconnecting said tab member to said leading end whereby manual manipulation of said lever portion of said tab member ruptures said score line at the leading end of said tear strip whereby the tear strip is partially severed from said metal cap to expose said cap of pliant material for manual release from said container. said cap of pliant material adapted to serve as a reclosure member for said container after said metal cap is removed.

5. A closure assembly for an open top container havsaid flange whereby said tear strip will remain joined with said flange at said second point upon rupture of the score line to convert the cap into a partially split unitary member with confronting ends that may be manually spread apart for release of the cap from said container, said cap with said line of weakness therein being impervious; and

ing means cooperative with said assembly for interlock- 5 ingly engaging said assembly to said container for closing and sealing the open top thereof. comprising:

an impervious cap of a single layer of a deformable metal having a top wall and a depending peripheral flange of a size and shape to telescopically fit over the open top container;

an inner cup-like sealing element of a pliant plastic material nested within said cap and adapted to be engaged with the container at the open top thereof a second leg of said score line extending across said end wall and terminating at a second point spaced from said first point and from the lower edge of a lever tab member joined to said tear strip at said portion of said score line for manual manipulation whereby said score line may be ruptured at the said portion and the tear strip partially severed from said cap by continued rupture of said score line through further manipulation of said lever tab member.

for hermetically sealing the jointure between said 7. A closure for closing and sealing an open top concap and container when the flange ofsaid cap is detainer comprising: formed into cooperative interlocking engagement an impervious cap of a single layer of a deformable with the means of said container; sheet material having an imperforate end wall and means forming a tear strip integral with said cap witha depending peripheral flange of a size and shape out rendering said cap pervious and partially severto telescopically fit over the open top container, able therefrom. said tear strip substantially bisectthe flange adapted to be deformed into cooperative ing said cap and having a leading end adjacent the interlocking engagement with means of said con periphery of said top wall at one side of said cap; tainer adjacent the open top thereof to close said a lever tab; and opening;

a rivet formed integral with the leading end of the a sealing element interposed between the defining tear strip and clampingly mounting one end of said edge of the open top of the container and said cap lever tab to said leading end of the tear strip to pofor hermetically sealing the jointure between said sition said lever tab on the top wall of said cap cap and container; whereby manual lifting of the opposite end of said a line of weakness formed in said cap and defining a lever tab severs the said leading end of the tear 3U rupturable residual web of sheet material, said restrip and a pulling force on said lever tab severs the sidual web defining a tear strip partially severable defining edges of said tear strip thereby to form from said cap; said cap into two bisections integrally joined tosaid residual web extending from a first point at the gether at a location on the cap adjacent the leading lower edge of said flange and upwardly therefrom end of said tear strip with the tear strip integrally to partially transect said end wall and reversely exjoined to one of said bisections so that said bisectended to form a leading end of said tear strip to a tions may be spread apart to release the cap from second point spaced circumferentially from said the open top of the container thereby exposing said first point and spaced from the lower edge of said inner cup-like sealing element for manual release flange; from said container, said sealing element being rea lever tab; usable as a convenience closure for rescaling the a rivet formed integral with the leading end of the open top of said container. tear strip clampingly mounting one end of said 6. A closure for closing and sealing an open top conlever tab to said leading end of the tear strip tainer comprising: whereby manual lifting of the opposite end of said a cap of a single layer of a deformable metal having lev er tab ruptures said residual web at the leading an end wall and a depending peripheral flange ofa end of the tear strip and a pulling force on said size and shape to telescopically fit over the open lever tab ruptures said residual web along said end top container, the flange adapted to be deformed wall; into cooperative interlocking engagement with said residual web so formed as to define a segment of means of said container adjacent the open top the tear strip formed in the end wall of said cap of thereof to form a tamper-proof closure for the cona width greater than the width of the tear strip at mi r; the leading end thereby whereby the increased a sealing element interposed between the defining width of said tear strip resists tearing stresses creedge of the open top of the container and said cap ated therein as the lever tab is pulled by the user to for hermetically sealing the jointure between said rupture the residual web across the end wall and cap and container after said flange is deformed into downwardly of the flange to said first point interlocking engagement with said container; thereby to convert said cap into a partially split unia line of weakness formed in said cap defining a tear tary member to two segments integrally joined with strip partially severable from said cap, said line of the tear strip integrally joined to one of said segweakness comprising a score line including a porments so that said segments may be spread apart to tion forming the leading end of said tear strip adjarelease the cap from the container, cent the periphery of said end wall and hming one 8. A closure assembly to be deformed into engageleg extending across said end wall and downwardly ment with an outer circumferential shoulder of an open of said flange to a point at the lower edge thereof. top container in a sealing manner. comprising;

an impervious cap of a single layer of deformable material having a top wall and a peripheral flange joined to the top wall with the peripheral flange being deformable for engagement with said shoul der of the container;

an inner flanged cap nested into the outer cap. said inner cap being made of readily pliable material to serve initially as a seal between the outer cap and the container and subsequently to seryc alone as a convenience closure for the container.

said outer cap being weakened along a line forming a tear strip without rendering said outer cap pervious. said outer cap extending over a central area of the top wall of the outer cap with the portion of the line that defines one side edge of the tear strip c\- tending all the way to the outer edge of the sheet material of the cap and with the portion of the line that defines the opposite side edge of the tear strip terminating short of the outer edge of the sheet material to prevent complete severance of the tear strip from the outer cap and thereby prevent split ting of the cap into a plurality of separate pieces; and

a tab connected to the tear strip on said top wall to facilitate severance of the tear strip.

9. A closure as set forth in claim 6 in which the end wall of said cap is formed with a relatively large. cen trally located inwardly directed offset of a depth at least as great as the thickness of said tab member whereby said tab member is disposed within said offset and below the defining edge of said end Wall.

10. A closure as set forth in claim 6 in which said legs of the score line diverge outwardly from said portion toward the periphery of the end wall of the cap whereby the tear strip defined by said line of weakness is increased in width to thereby increase the resistance of the tear strip to tearing forces as the score line is ruptured by manipulation of the tab member.

1]. A closure as set forth in claim 6 in which the cap is formed with a line of weakness opposite from the confronting ends to facilitate the manual spreading of the cap after rupture of the score line.

[2. In a closure for an open top container the combination of:

a cap of sheet material having an end wall and a pc ripheral flange with the latter shaped and dimensioned for affixation to the container to close the open top thereof said cap being weakened along a line defining a tear strip. a portion of the line encompassing a central area of the end wall of the cap and two legs of the line extending from the central area toward the periphery of the cap, one of the two legs extending all the way to the edge of the sheet material of said cap and the other leg terminating short of said lower edge of the sheet material of said cap;

an embossed rib in the sheet material encompassing said portion of the line. the two ends of the rib terminating adjacent said two legs respectively to facilitate severance of the sheet material along said portion of the line by stiffening the sheet material adjacent the tear strip; and

means attached to the tear strip on said end wall for manual manipulation to rupture the sheet material along the weakened line for nearly complete sc\er ance of the tear strip thereby to convert the flanged cap into a one piece partially split member with confronting ends that may be easily manually spread apart for release of the partially split memher from the container with the partially severed tear strip attached to one of the two confronting ends of the partially split member. [3. A closure assembly to be deformed into engagement with an outer circumferential shoulder of an open 5 top container in a sealing manner, comprising:

an outer cap of tough sheet material having a pcriph cral flange that is deformable for engagement with said shoulder of the container; an inner flanged cap ne ted into the outer cap. said N inner cap being made of readily pliable material to serve initially as a seal between the outer cap and the container and subsequently to serve alone as a convenience closure for the container;

said outer cap being weakened along a line forming a tear strip extending over a central area of the cap with the portion of the line that defines one side edge of the tear strip extending all the way to the outer edge of the sheet material of the cap and with the portion of the line that defines the opposite side edge of the tear strip terminating short of the outer edge of the sheet material to prevent complete severance of the tear strip from the outer cap and thereby prevent splitting of the cap into a plurality of separate pieces;

an offset rib formed adjacent the tear strip encompassing the portion of the tear strip in said central area to stiffen the sheet material adjacent the tear strip to facilitate severance of the tear strip; and

a tab connected to the tear strip in said central area to facilitate severance of the tear strip.

14. A closure assembly as set forth in claim 13 in which said tab has a connection with said tear strip in said central area adjacent said line and near said rib with a handle portion of the tab extending away from the line into the central area whereby lifting the handle portion of the tab depresses the tear strip adjacent the line and whereby said rib facilitates severance of the tear strip by resisting depression of the sheet material outside the area of the tear strip in the region of said connection.

15. A closure assembly as set forth in claim l4 in which said tab is connected to the tear strip by a hollow rivet formed in the tear strip and in which said handle portion of the tab is formed with a transverse cut near the rivet to facilitate bending of the tab in the region of the cut to facilitate initial lifting of the handle portion of the tab.

16. A closure for closing an open top container comprising:

a cap of a single layer of deformable metal having an end wall and a peripheral flange extending generally transverse to said end wall. said flange being of a size and shape to telescopically cooperate with the open top container. said flange being adapted to interlock engagement with the container adjacent the open top thereof to thereby connect the cap to the container. said flange terminating in an edge remote from said end wall;

a score line in said cap defining a tear portion par tially severahle from said cap. said score line including an initial portion on the end wall and a first section extending from said initial portion at least partially across said end wall and at least partially across said flange to a first location substantially at said edge of said flange, said score line having a second section extending from said initial portion at least partially across said end wall and terminat ing at a second location spaced from said first location and from said edge of said flange. whereby said tear portion remains integrally joined to said cap at said second location upon rupture of the score line: and

lc\er tab connected to said tear portion adjacent said initial portion of said score line said tab being movable to rupture said score line at said initial portion and partially sever the tear portion from the cap the metal between said second location and said edge of said flange maintaining the tab integrally joined to said cap even after both of said sections of said score line have been ruptured to thereby facilitate removal of the cap as a unitary member from the container 17. A closure as defined in claim [6 including a line of weakness in said cap, said line of weakness extending from a third location on said cap adjacent said initial portion toward said edge of said flange.

18. A closure for an open top container comprising:

a cap of sheet metal having an imperforate end wall and a peripheral flange with the latter shaped and dimensioned for affixation to the container to thereby cause said end wall to close the open top of the container said flange extending generally transverse to said end wall and terminating in an edge remote from said end wall;

said cap being weakened along a predetermined line without perforating said end wall to form a tear portion partially severable from the cap said tear portion being severable along one side thereof from a starting location at least partially across said end wall and said flange to said edge of said flange, said tear portion being severable from said starting location along the other side of said tear portion to a location spaced from said edge of said flange whereby said tear portion remains integrally attached to said cap; and

lever tab means attached to said tear portion on said end wall for manual manipulation to rupture the sheet metal at said starting location and along said sides of said tear portion to there by convert the cap into a one-piece partially split member with confronting ends that may be easily manually spread apart for release of the partially split member from the container with the partially severed tear portion being attached to one of the two confronting ends of the partially split member.

19. in combination, a container having an open end for dispensing product means disposed in said con tainer and a one-piece closure member secured to said open end of said container to close said open end, said closure member having a top portion disposed over said open end and a depending peripheral rim portion disposed around said container at said open end thereof to secure said closure member to said container said closure member having a tear section integral therewith throughout the entire juncture of said tear section with the remainder of said closure member and provided with two edges that join together at adjacent ends thereof to define one end of said tear section with one edge thereof extending from said top portion to the free edge of said rim portion and with the other edge being spaced oppositely from said one edge along its full length and terminating short of said free edge of said rim portion so that said tear section remains integral with said closure member even though its opposed edges have been separated from said closure member and a ring pull tab means secured to said tear section at said top portion of said closure member and having a finger-receiving opening passing therethrough to facilitate the pulling of said one edge of said tear section from said closure member,

20. A combination as set forth in claim I) in which said tear section extends across the major portion of said top portion.

2 l. A one-piece closure member for a container having an open end for dispensing product means disposed in said container. said closure member having a top portion adapted to be disposed over said open end and a depending peripheral rim portion adapted to be dis posed around said container at said open end thereof to secure said closure member to said container said closure member having a tear section integral therewith throughout the entire juncture of said tear section with the remainder of said closure member and pro vided with two edges that join together at adjacent ends thereof to define one end of said tear section with one edge thereofextending from said top portion to the free edge of said rim portion and with the other edge being spaced oppositely from said one edge along its full length and terminating short of said free edge of said rim portion so that said tear section remains integral with said closure member even though its opposed edges have been separated from said closure member, said tear section extending across the major portion of said top portion, 

1. Container means comprising, first wall means defining a compartment and having first peripheral surface means defining large area access means therefor, pull-off wall means having second peripheral surface means corresponding in peripheral outline to said first peripheral surface means and having strip means comprising an integral part thereof, said strip means having a severable inner portion adapted to have pull means fastened thereto and an attached outer portion which remains attached to said pull-off wall means adjacent said second peripheral surface means upon severing said strip means, fastening means for fastening said wall means together by fastening said surface means together at an infinite number of independent fastening positions therealong, wherein said attached outer portion enables said strip means to be used to apply a concentrated pulling force the effect of which is to first pull a portion of said pull-off wall means free adjacent the initial position of said attached outer portion and with continued application of said pulling force said pull-off wall means is pullEd free in a progressive manner at each of said fastening positions, and pull means having inner end means and fixed to said inner portion to enable easier severing of said strip means, said strip means being defined by substantially U-shaped score means arranged in said pull-off wall means with its outwardly extending legs substantially transverse to said second peripheral surface means and the strip portion between the terminal ends of said outwardly extending legs defining said attached outer portion.
 2. Pull-off wall means for container means having first peripheral surface means defining large area access means therefor, said pull-off wall means comprising, second peripheral surface means corresponding in peripheral outline to said first peripheral surface means and adapted to be fastened thereto at an infinite number of independent fastening positions therealong and strip means formed as an integral part of said pull-off wall means, said strip means having a severable inner portion adapted to have pull means fastened thereto and an attached outer portion which remains attached to said pull-off wall means adjacent said second peripheral surface means upon severing said strip means, wherein said attached outer portion enables said strip means to be used to apply a concentrated pulling force the effect of which is to first pull a portion of said pull-off wall means free from said first peripheral surface means adjacent the initial position of said outer portion and with continued application of said pulling force said pull-off wall means is pulled free in a progressive manner at each of said fastening positions, and pull means having inner end means and fixed to said inner portion to enable easier severing of said strip means, said strip means being defined by substantially U-shaped score means arranged in said pull-off wall means with its outwardly extending legs substantially transverse to said second peripheral surface means and the strip portion between the terminal ends of said outwardly extending legs defining said attached outer portion.
 3. Pull-off wall means as set forth in claim 2 adapted to be used as an end closure for said container means and having a substantially planar surface with a peripheral transverse flange defining said second peripheral surface means and said end closure is fastened to said first peripheral surface means by placing said transverse flange in position thereagainst and fastening said transverse flange at said infinite number of fastening positions.
 4. A closure for closing and sealing an open top container comprising: an imperforate cap of a single layer of deformable sheet metal having an end wall and a depending peripheral flange of a size and shape to telescopically fit over the open top container, the flange adapted to be deformed into cooperative interlocking engagement with means of said container adjacent the open top thereof whereby the cap forms a tamperproof closure for the container; a cap of a pliant material having an end wall and a depending flange of a size and shape to nest into said metal cap and forming a sealing element interposed between the defining edge of the open top of the container and said metal cap for hermetically sealing the jointure between said metal cap and container; a line of weakness formed in said metal cap and defining a tear strip having a leading end adjacent one side of the end wall of said metal cap; said line of weakness comprising a score line, a segment of said score line forming one side of said tear strip and extending from a point on the lower edge of said flange and upwardly thereof to said end wall and partly across said end wall to said leading end of the tear strip, a further segment of said score line forming the other side of said tear strip and extending from the leading end thereof across said end wall and downwardly of said flange to a second point spaced from said first point and upwardly from the lower edge of said flange whereby said tear strip will remain joined with said flange by the metal intermediate said second point and the lower edge of said flange upon rupture of the score line to convert the metal cap into a partially split unitary member with confronting ends that may be manually spread apart for release of the metal cap from said container; a tab member having a substantially longitudinally rigid lever portion; and means integral with said leading end of the tear strip interconnecting said tab member to said leading end whereby manual manipulation of said lever portion of said tab member ruptures said score line at the leading end of said tear strip whereby the tear strip is partially severed from said metal cap to expose said cap of pliant material for manual release from said container, said cap of pliant material adapted to serve as a reclosure member for said container after said metal cap is removed.
 5. A closure assembly for an open top container having means cooperative with said assembly for interlockingly engaging said assembly to said container for closing and sealing the open top thereof, comprising: an impervious cap of a single layer of a deformable metal having a top wall and a depending peripheral flange of a size and shape to telescopically fit over the open top container; an inner cup-like sealing element of a pliant plastic material nested within said cap and adapted to be engaged with the container at the open top thereof for hermetically sealing the jointure between said cap and container when the flange of said cap is deformed into cooperative interlocking engagement with the means of said container; means forming a tear strip integral with said cap without rendering said cap pervious and partially severable therefrom, said tear strip substantially bisecting said cap and having a leading end adjacent the periphery of said top wall at one side of said cap; a lever tab; and a rivet formed integral with the leading end of the tear strip and clampingly mounting one end of said lever tab to said leading end of the tear strip to position said lever tab on the top wall of said cap, whereby manual lifting of the opposite end of said lever tab severs the said leading end of the tear strip and a pulling force on said lever tab severs the defining edges of said tear strip, thereby to form said cap into two bisections integrally joined together at a location on the cap adjacent the leading end of said tear strip with the tear strip integrally joined to one of said bisections so that said bisections may be spread apart to release the cap from the open top of the container thereby exposing said inner cup-like sealing element for manual release from said container, said sealing element being reusable as a convenience closure for resealing the open top of said container.
 6. A closure for closing and sealing an open top container comprising: a cap of a single layer of a deformable metal having an end wall and a depending peripheral flange of a size and shape to telescopically fit over the open top container, the flange adapted to be deformed into cooperative interlocking engagement with means of said container adjacent the open top thereof to form a tamper-proof closure for the container; a sealing element interposed between the defining edge of the open top of the container and said cap for hermetically sealing the jointure between said cap and container after said flange is deformed into interlocking engagement with said container; a line of weakness formed in said cap defining a tear strip partially severable from said cap, said line of weakness comprising a score line including a portion forming the leading end of said tear strip adjacent the periphery of said end wall and having one leg extending across said end wall and downwardly of said flange to a point at the lower edge thereof, a second leg of said score line extending across said end wall and terminating at a second point spaced from said first point and from the lower edge of said flange whereby said tear strip will remain joined with said flange at said second point upon rupture of the score line to convert the cap into a partially split unitary member with confronting ends that may be manually spread apart for release of the cap from said container, said cap with said line of weakness therein being impervious; and a lever tab member joined to said tear strip at said portion of said score line for manual manipulation whereby said score line may be ruptured at the said portion and the tear strip partially severed from said cap by continued rupture of said score line through further manipulation of said lever tab member.
 7. A closure for closing and sealing an open top container comprising: an impervious cap of a single layer of a deformable sheet material having an imperforate end wall and a depending peripheral flange of a size and shape to telescopically fit over the open top container, the flange adapted to be deformed into cooperative interlocking engagement with means of said container adjacent the open top thereof to close said opening; a sealing element interposed between the defining edge of the open top of the container and said cap for hermetically sealing the jointure between said cap and container; a line of weakness formed in said cap and defining a rupturable residual web of sheet material, said residual web defining a tear strip partially severable from said cap; said residual web extending from a first point at the lower edge of said flange and upwardly therefrom to partially transect said end wall and reversely extended to form a leading end of said tear strip to a second point spaced circumferentially from said first point and spaced from the lower edge of said flange; a lever tab; a rivet formed integral with the leading end of the tear strip clampingly mounting one end of said lever tab to said leading end of the tear strip whereby manual lifting of the opposite end of said lever tab ruptures said residual web at the leading end of the tear strip and a pulling force on said lever tab ruptures said residual web along said end wall; said residual web so formed as to define a segment of the tear strip formed in the end wall of said cap of a width greater than the width of the tear strip at the leading end thereby whereby the increased width of said tear strip resists tearing stresses created therein as the lever tab is pulled by the user to rupture the residual web across the end wall and downwardly of the flange to said first point, thereby to convert said cap into a partially split unitary member to two segments integrally joined with the tear strip integrally joined to one of said segments so that said segments may be spread apart to release the cap from the container.
 8. A closure assembly to be deformed into engagement with an outer circumferential shoulder of an open top container in a sealing manner, comprising: an impervious cap of a single layer of deformable material having a top wall and a peripheral flange joined to the top wall with the peripheral flange being deformable for engagement with said shoulder of the container; an inner flanged cap nested into the outer cap, said inner cap being made of readily pliable material to serve initially as a seal between the outer cap and the container and subsequently to serve alone as a convenience closure for the container; said outer cap being weakened along a line forming a tear strip without rendering said outer cap pervious, said outer cap extending over a central area of the top wall of the outer cap with the portion of the line that defines one side edge of the tear strip extending all the way to the outer edge of the sheet material of the cap and with the portion of the line that defines the opposite side edge of the tear strip terminating short of the outer edge of the sheet material to prevent complete severance of the tear strip from the outer cap and thereby prevent splitting of the cap into a plurality of separate pIeces; and a tab connected to the tear strip on said top wall to facilitate severance of the tear strip.
 9. A closure as set forth in claim 6 in which the end wall of said cap is formed with a relatively large, centrally located inwardly directed offset of a depth at least as great as the thickness of said tab member whereby said tab member is disposed within said offset and below the defining edge of said end wall.
 10. A closure as set forth in claim 6 in which said legs of the score line diverge outwardly from said portion toward the periphery of the end wall of the cap whereby the tear strip defined by said line of weakness is increased in width to thereby increase the resistance of the tear strip to tearing forces as the score line is ruptured by manipulation of the tab member.
 11. A closure as set forth in claim 6 in which the cap is formed with a line of weakness opposite from the confronting ends to facilitate the manual spreading of the cap after rupture of the score line.
 12. In a closure for an open top container, the combination of: a cap of sheet material having an end wall and a peripheral flange with the latter shaped and dimensioned for affixation to the container to close the open top thereof, said cap being weakened along a line defining a tear strip, a portion of the line encompassing a central area of the end wall of the cap and two legs of the line extending from the central area toward the periphery of the cap, one of the two legs extending all the way to the edge of the sheet material of said cap and the other leg terminating short of said lower edge of the sheet material of said cap; an embossed rib in the sheet material encompassing said portion of the line, the two ends of the rib terminating adjacent said two legs respectively to facilitate severance of the sheet material along said portion of the line by stiffening the sheet material adjacent the tear strip; and means attached to the tear strip on said end wall for manual manipulation to rupture the sheet material along the weakened line for nearly complete severance of the tear strip thereby to convert the flanged cap into a one piece partially split member with confronting ends that may be easily manually spread apart for release of the partially split member from the container with the partially severed tear strip attached to one of the two confronting ends of the partially split member.
 13. A closure assembly to be deformed into engagement with an outer circumferential shoulder of an open top container in a sealing manner, comprising: an outer cap of tough sheet material having a peripheral flange that is deformable for engagement with said shoulder of the container; an inner flanged cap nested into the outer cap, said inner cap being made of readily pliable material to serve initially as a seal between the outer cap and the container and subsequently to serve alone as a convenience closure for the container; said outer cap being weakened along a line forming a tear strip extending over a central area of the cap with the portion of the line that defines one side edge of the tear strip extending all the way to the outer edge of the sheet material of the cap and with the portion of the line that defines the opposite side edge of the tear strip terminating short of the outer edge of the sheet material to prevent complete severance of the tear strip from the outer cap and thereby prevent splitting of the cap into a plurality of separate pieces; an offset rib formed adjacent the tear strip encompassing the portion of the tear strip in said central area to stiffen the sheet material adjacent the tear strip to facilitate severance of the tear strip; and a tab connected to the tear strip in said central area to facilitate severance of the tear strip.
 14. A closure assembly as set forth in claim 13 in which said tab has a connection with said tear strip in said central area adjacent said line and near said rib with a handle portion of tHe tab extending away from the line into the central area whereby lifting the handle portion of the tab depresses the tear strip adjacent the line and whereby said rib facilitates severance of the tear strip by resisting depression of the sheet material outside the area of the tear strip in the region of said connection.
 15. A closure assembly as set forth in claim 14 in which said tab is connected to the tear strip by a hollow rivet formed in the tear strip and in which said handle portion of the tab is formed with a transverse cut near the rivet to facilitate bending of the tab in the region of the cut to facilitate initial lifting of the handle portion of the tab.
 16. A closure for closing an open top container comprising: a cap of a single layer of deformable metal having an end wall and a peripheral flange extending generally transverse to said end wall, said flange being of a size and shape to telescopically cooperate with the open top container, said flange being adapted to interlock engagement with the container adjacent the open top thereof to thereby connect the cap to the container, said flange terminating in an edge remote from said end wall; a score line in said cap defining a tear portion partially severable from said cap, said score line including an initial portion on the end wall and a first section extending from said initial portion at least partially across said end wall and at least partially across said flange to a first location substantially at said edge of said flange, said score line having a second section extending from said initial portion at least partially across said end wall and terminating at a second location spaced from said first location and from said edge of said flange, whereby said tear portion remains integrally joined to said cap at said second location upon rupture of the score line; and a lever tab connected to said tear portion adjacent said initial portion of said score line, said tab being movable to rupture said score line at said initial portion and partially sever the tear portion from the cap, the metal between said second location and said edge of said flange maintaining the tab integrally joined to said cap even after both of said sections of said score line have been ruptured to thereby facilitate removal of the cap as a unitary member from the container.
 17. A closure as defined in claim 16 including a line of weakness in said cap, said line of weakness extending from a third location on said cap adjacent said initial portion toward said edge of said flange.
 18. A closure for an open top container comprising: a cap of sheet metal having an imperforate end wall and a peripheral flange with the latter shaped and dimensioned for affixation to the container to thereby cause said end wall to close the open top of the container, said flange extending generally transverse to said end wall and terminating in an edge remote from said end wall; said cap being weakened along a predetermined line without perforating said end wall to form a tear portion partially severable from the cap, said tear portion being severable along one side thereof from a starting location at least partially across said end wall and said flange to said edge of said flange, said tear portion being severable from said starting location along the other side of said tear portion to a location spaced from said edge of said flange whereby said tear portion remains integrally attached to said cap; and lever tab means attached to said tear portion on said end wall for manual manipulation to rupture the sheet metal at said starting location and along said sides of said tear portion to thereby convert the cap into a one-piece partially split member with confronting ends that may be easily manually spread apart for release of the partially split member from the container with the partially severed tear portion being attached to one of the two confronting ends of the partially split member.
 19. In combination, a container Having an open end for dispensing product means disposed in said container, and a one-piece closure member secured to said open end of said container to close said open end, said closure member having a top portion disposed over said open end and a depending peripheral rim portion disposed around said container at said open end thereof to secure said closure member to said container, said closure member having a tear section integral therewith throughout the entire juncture of said tear section with the remainder of said closure member and provided with two edges that join together at adjacent ends thereof to define one end of said tear section with one edge thereof extending from said top portion to the free edge of said rim portion and with the other edge being spaced oppositely from said one edge along its full length and terminating short of said free edge of said rim portion so that said tear section remains integral with said closure member even though its opposed edges have been separated from said closure member, and a ring pull tab means secured to said tear section at said top portion of said closure member and having a finger-receiving opening passing therethrough to facilitate the pulling of said one edge of said tear section from said closure member.
 20. A combination as set forth in claim 19 in which said tear section extends across the major portion of said top portion.
 21. A one-piece closure member for a container having an open end for dispensing product means disposed in said container, said closure member having a top portion adapted to be disposed over said open end and a depending peripheral rim portion adapted to be disposed around said container at said open end thereof to secure said closure member to said container, said closure member having a tear section integral therewith throughout the entire juncture of said tear section with the remainder of said closure member and provided with two edges that join together at adjacent ends thereof to define one end of said tear section with one edge thereof extending from said top portion to the free edge of said rim portion and with the other edge being spaced oppositely from said one edge along its full length and terminating short of said free edge of said rim portion so that said tear section remains integral with said closure member even though its opposed edges have been separated from said closure member, said tear section extending across the major portion of said top portion. 